Session 8: Sermon on the Mount - Judging Others

My notes from Session 8 - Jen Wilkin study

Matthew 7:1-2. The extent to which you are hard on others shows the extent that you don't understand your own salvation.  When we understand that judgment has been set aside for us, we're more likely to set it aside for other people.

Matthew 7:3-5. You can tell that Jesus has broadened who He is speaking to when He says "you hypocrite".

When the disciples hear Him talk about "don't judge", it would be a sign to them that they are to extend mercy.  To the crowd, it will perk up their ears - they can expect to be treated differently than by the teachers of the law and pharisees. These people were very concerned with finding fault.  He gives a colorful demonstration on judging.

In 7:4 notice He says "brother".  He's talking about judging someone in our like-minded community of believers.

We have two different things here:

• the speck of sawdust
• the log

Both made out of wood.  The only difference is one is small and one is large.  One partially obstructs our view.  The other one completely obscures the view.  We judge people harshly for something that is our own problem.  How do we know when to not judge?  The kind of judging that self-justifies is wrong or self-elevates.  Here it is: is the judgment that you want to pass intended to bring about restoration or condemnation?

When it comes to sin though, we need to hold each other lovingly accountable.  He's talking about legalism here as well - holding everybody else accountable but ourselves.

Jesus has already said we are blessed when we are merciful not when we justify.  To avoid us judging is to hold ourselves to a high standard of obedience and give other people grace.  Jesus, of course, now is taking aim at the scribes and pharisees.

Matthew 7:6. He shifts now to dogs and pigs.  Look at Phil. 3:2 - dogs (unbelievers), living with a complete disregard for God.  Then pig reference 2 Peter 2:22 - probably a reference to false prophets.

Don't give them what is holy.  What is the holy thing that we have to give to people? The gospel.  Jesus' original hearers are the disciples who will in their time of ministry be persecuted and deal with dogs and pigs.

Remember here that He is giving them an extreme example.  There are people who are so hard to the gospel and have twisted or rejected the truth repeatedly that we do not continue to lay before them what is sacred and holy.

Matthew 7:7-8. These verses have been used to justify all kinds of terrible theology.  Because it looks like here without taking it within context is what we persistently ask the Father for will be given to us.

Notice the progression: He moves from asking - seeking - knocking.  How much effort does it require to ask? None.  But seeking implies a more active pursuit - go after it.  Knocking implies the obstacle of a door.  Obstacles and effort when we go to make our request to the Lord.  It may take effort and repetition on our part.

Repetitive asking is not heaping up empty phrases.  We ask, seek and knock because it's something we care a lot about.  We tend to hear these verses and think I'm going to ask, seek and knock until the Lord gives me what I want.  We should know that at this point in the Sermon on the Mount the disciples are going to be completely overwhelmed with all that Jesus has set before them of what the Kingdom of Heaven is and what their role in it will be.  They see they are being asked to be a citizen of Heaven on an enormous scale.

So when Jesus comes to this place in the sermon and says ask, seek and knock, they are not thinking about a nicer house or a prettier wife.  They are thinking "Lord, I need strength, greater faith, discernment, courage, compassion, mercy, patience. Lord, give us these things."  Those are the things we are told if we ask, seek and knock.  The Lord will give them to you.

Verse 9. This will be made more evident (9-11).  He begins to show to them this "how much more God".  They saw already with clothing the lilies of the field, providing food for the birds - the how much more.

Here, He's going to put it in the context of providing daily bread.  What are the two things Jesus brought up that we can ask our earthly fathers for?

• bread
• fish - 

Remember the story? Five loaves and two fish.  Story of man at midnight - 3 loaves.  But the bread looks like a stone.  Jesus' listeners would know this. Ask for bread - gives him a stone.  We have to look at this differently.  Jesus' temptation - stones to bread.  We don't give our children something that mocks their request - Jesus is saying this.

Our Father is good and will give us good things for our spiritual daily bread. Jesus has said His daily bread was to do what the Father had sent Him to do.

So, what we need to do the will of the One who sent us - our daily bread - will be provided by our "much more" Father in Heaven.

In the Lord's prayer, He has already told us to ask for our physical daily bread and here in Matthew, He is asking us "please ask for your spiritual daily bread".

We can trust God, who sees the beginning and end, to give us all we need for our spiritual daily sustenance.

Verse 12. Jesus just summed up the OT in this one statement.  "The golden rule" here.  If we just did this, whatever the law and the prophets want to communicate to you would fall into place.  Huge statement.  What He means is look for ways to treat people better than what they deserve.

Next: Session 9